Sarah Palin and Evangelical Pragmatism - Dr. Paul J. Dean
"The Palin selection is the single most dangerous event in the conscience of the Christian community in the last 10 years at least," said Doug Phillips, president of Vision Forum, a Texas-based ministry. "The unabashed, unquestioning support of Sarah Palin and all she represents marks a fundamental departure from our historic position of family priorities -- of moms being at home with young children, of moms being helpers to their husbands, the priority of being keepers of the home."
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The debate surrounding Sarah Palin's nomination highlights at least three critical issues facing evangelicals today: male headship; the role of women in all contexts; and a confusion of priorities in the church. It is the third issue that is of greatest concern.
Regardless of one's interpretation of a watershed text like Titus 2:5, which is of vital import to say the least, evangelicals must wrestle with the prioritization of politics over gospel advance; pragmatism over truth; having a seat at the world's table over being a voice in the wilderness; fear of temporal circumstances over rest in divine providence; and earthly desires over scriptural authority.
Winning an election is an earthly pursuit of little value in the context of eternity and is secondary to maintaining a focus on the specific commission our Lord has given us to make disciples. To adopt a political strategy for gospel advance, assume that government is the answer to our problems, act as if morality is our goal, or justify a politically consumed focus as being salt and light, is to place the easy work of expedience over the hard work of spiritual transformation and miss the point of our calling completely. The temptation to have an influence on the world's stage is large and often militates against the position of marginilization to which Christians are often called by God. Having a prophetic voice that is pleasing to God is far more important than having a welcome voice among other earthly voices in mundane deliberations. While individual Christians should certainly have preferences with regard to political candidates, they must realize that no political candidate or public policy can change hearts. They must also realize that God is the one who raises up and deposes kings and that regardless of who is on the earthly throne or in the Oval Office, the Lord of the Universe has not stepped away from His post. The sad reality is that we are often so self-focused and consumed with fleshly desires that might include earthly power or even revenge, we fail to see that Scripture must be our authority in every circumstance and that we must never substitute form for substance if we are to have true peace in our on hearts and true peace in a world that has indeed been cursed.
"The Palin selection is the single most dangerous event in the conscience of the Christian community in the last 10 years at least," said Doug Phillips, president of Vision Forum, a Texas-based ministry. "The unabashed, unquestioning support of Sarah Palin and all she represents marks a fundamental departure from our historic position of family priorities -- of moms being at home with young children, of moms being helpers to their husbands, the priority of being keepers of the home."
read entire article here
The debate surrounding Sarah Palin's nomination highlights at least three critical issues facing evangelicals today: male headship; the role of women in all contexts; and a confusion of priorities in the church. It is the third issue that is of greatest concern.
Regardless of one's interpretation of a watershed text like Titus 2:5, which is of vital import to say the least, evangelicals must wrestle with the prioritization of politics over gospel advance; pragmatism over truth; having a seat at the world's table over being a voice in the wilderness; fear of temporal circumstances over rest in divine providence; and earthly desires over scriptural authority.
Winning an election is an earthly pursuit of little value in the context of eternity and is secondary to maintaining a focus on the specific commission our Lord has given us to make disciples. To adopt a political strategy for gospel advance, assume that government is the answer to our problems, act as if morality is our goal, or justify a politically consumed focus as being salt and light, is to place the easy work of expedience over the hard work of spiritual transformation and miss the point of our calling completely. The temptation to have an influence on the world's stage is large and often militates against the position of marginilization to which Christians are often called by God. Having a prophetic voice that is pleasing to God is far more important than having a welcome voice among other earthly voices in mundane deliberations. While individual Christians should certainly have preferences with regard to political candidates, they must realize that no political candidate or public policy can change hearts. They must also realize that God is the one who raises up and deposes kings and that regardless of who is on the earthly throne or in the Oval Office, the Lord of the Universe has not stepped away from His post. The sad reality is that we are often so self-focused and consumed with fleshly desires that might include earthly power or even revenge, we fail to see that Scripture must be our authority in every circumstance and that we must never substitute form for substance if we are to have true peace in our on hearts and true peace in a world that has indeed been cursed.
posted by IABC | 6:16 AM
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